A Roanoke Rapids man, Shelvy Travon Edwards, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon. This decision follows his guilty plea on August 21, 2024. Edwards was found with a stolen AR-15 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.
The incident occurred on September 12, 2023, when Halifax County Sheriff's Deputies and Roanoke Rapids Police Officers acted on a community tip. They were informed that Edwards was armed and located in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Law enforcement officers were already seeking Edwards due to an outstanding arrest warrant.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers observed Edwards moving a long, dark-colored object towards the center console of his vehicle before fleeing on foot. He left the car door open as he ran. Two officers pursued and apprehended him quickly with assistance from a K-9 officer. Meanwhile, two other officers secured the area and identified the object near the center console as a fully loaded AR-15 rifle. A serial number check revealed that the rifle was stolen.
Edwards' prior felony convictions in North Carolina and Virginia legally prohibit him from possessing firearms. His criminal record includes conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon in North Carolina and unlawful wounding in Virginia.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced the sentencing following Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II's decision. The case was investigated by both the Halifax County Sheriff's Office and the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart prosecuted it.
Further details about related court documents can be accessed through the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or via PACER using Case No. 4:24-CR-15-M-RN.